Some students get financial help from parents or work part-time jobs to pay for college.
Others sell farm animals.
Countless students sell animals to help pay for college, said Joe Domecq, state extension dairy specialist.
"I can think of 20 people here who are either current MSU students or former MSU students who graduated in the last two or three years," Domecq said. "You either use this money for college or reinvest it in more animals … they're going to use it for college."
Students had a chance to earn some money Tuesday at the 11th annual Dairy Expo and 4-H Dairy Days at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.
Moos reverberated off the walls, and the smell of hay and farm animals hung in the air as students prepared their dairy cows for a showmanship contest.
Animal science sophomore Ashley Messing began participating in 4-H events, like 4-H Dairy Days, in kindergarten and became involved in dairy about four years ago.
Messing has earned about $10,000 selling steer and up to $4,000 selling dairy cows, and all the money has gone toward paying for college. In addition to her sales, Messing has received scholarships, many from the dairy industry. The money has been able to cover all of her college expenses, she said.
On average, dairy cows sell for between up to $5,000, Domecq said, adding that cows at this event sometimes sell for up to $40,000.
Each cow costs about $5 a day to raise, which includes feed, labor and medicine, Messing said.
"The most expensive part is finding your animal and investing time in it. But if it's what you love to do, it's worth it," she said, "It takes a lot of love. You can't have the patience if you don't love them."
It takes support, too. Messing's family cared for her 10 cows during the school year, she said, adding that support from farmers in the industry also has helped.
"After time, (the cows) love the show ring as much as we do," she said, adding that one of her cows gets excited when she puts her halter on because she knows she is going to the ring.
Agriculture business and agricultural communications senior Jessica Geurink has been involved in 4-H Dairy Days since she was 9 and has earned about $1,000 in prize money. As a junior in high school, she won a calf and was able to sell it for almost $2,000. The next year she won a second calf and also sold it for $2,000.
"I've had to pay for some of my schooling and at least a good two-thirds have been paid for through scholarships," Geurink said, adding that selling animals is used as a source of income.
Geurink sells at least one animal each year and receives up to $4,500 each year.
The 4-H Dairy Days attracted nearly 150 4-H youth, ages 9 to 19, who brought about 300 cattle to the showmanship contest.
"A primary focus and goal (of the event) is on education of young people in the dairy industry and an educational program for consumers to learn about the Michigan dairy industry," Domecq said.
The events train the next generation in agriculture, he added.
The kids are evaluated on how well they handle their animal and how well they present it to the judge, Domecq said.
On show day, the cows have to be washed, their hair clipped and their ears cleaned, said Bryce Frahm, a 12-year-old participant from Frankenmuth. However, it takes years to prepare dairy cows for showing.
Getting them halter broken, which means training the cow to work with its owner while in a halter, is started at an early age, Frahm said.
"It works better when the cows are 100 to 150 pounds (as calves), than to work with them when they're 900 pounds. If you start later, you're at a severe disadvantage," said Bryce's father, Eric Frahm.
